Following two of the worst years of natural catastrophic event property claim settlements in the history in the United States, overall customer satisfaction with the property claims experience remains high, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 Property Claims Satisfaction Study released today.

The study, now in its sixth year, measures satisfaction with the property claims experience among insurance customers who filed a claim for damages covered under their homeowners' policy by examining five factors: settlement; first notice of loss; estimation process; service interaction; and repair process.

Following 2011 and 2012, when insurance companies faced historic levels of catastrophic event claims settlements, customer satisfaction remains high and stable. Overall satisfaction in the 2013 study is 832 (on a 1,000-point scale), decreasing by one point year over year, but significantly increasing from 823 in 2011 and 818 in 2010.

In the 2013 study, among the approximately 8 percent of homeowners in the United States who filed a property claim, the average settlement amount is $8,517, up from $7,937 in 2012. While the amount of the settlement to cover contents increases by nearly $250 year over year, the amount to cover the cost of repairs increases to $7,844 in 2013 from $7,151 in 2012. The average out-of-pocket expenses paid by homeowners nearly doubles to $3,888 in 2013 from $1,945 in 2012.

"Despite increases in both the frequency and average severity of property damage in the U.S. during the past two years, the fact that customer satisfaction remains high is a testament to how diligently the personal insurance industry has responded to its customers," said Jeremy Bowler, senior director of the insurance practice at J.D. Power and Associates.

While overall satisfaction remains relatively stable year over year, satisfaction with the service interaction process declines by nine points in 2013, compared with 2012. Much of that drop in satisfaction likely is due to the continuing trend of homeowners filing their claim via direct channels--typically online or by calling a call center--rather than through an agent. The study finds that 68 percent of customers file their recent homeowners claim through direct channels, a significant increase from 57 percent in 2012. Satisfaction is 50 points higher among customers who file a claim through their agent, than among those who file a claim through direct channels.

"For the industry average, the call center experience fails to deliver the same level of service as an agent," said Bowler. "Especially during times of hardship when someone's house has been destroyed or their valuable possessions have been lost, it's difficult for a call center representative to replicate the personal relationship customers get with an agent. However, a select few direct insurance companies buck this trend, achieving call center service scores that compete favorably with the best agency writers."

Among customers surveyed for the 2013 study, 72 percent who filed with an agent say their agent helped put them at ease, while just 56 percent who filed direct say their call center representative did the same.

"The industry is definitely shifting toward direct channels," said Bowler. "As that shift continues, the key for insurance companies is to ensure their call center representatives are fully trained to provide the claims experience their customers have come to expect. High customer satisfaction can be achieved through call centers, because some of the insurance companies that have the highest overall satisfaction in the study are direct providers, including Amica Mutual, this year's highest-ranked insurer."

Highest-Ranked Insurance Companies

Amica Mutual ranks highest in overall satisfaction with the homeowners insurance claims experience for the second consecutive year, achieving a score of 907. Amica Mutual also performs particularly well in all five factors. CHUBB follows in the rankings with a score of 902, also performing particularly well across all five factors, while Encompass ranks third with a score of 867. USAA also achieves high levels of customer satisfaction, although it is not included in the rankings due to the closed nature of its membership.

The 2013 Property Claims Satisfaction Study is based on more than 5,500 responses from homeowners insurance customers who filed a property claim between May 2011 and January 2013.

About J.D. Power and Associates Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company providing forecasting, performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phoneratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.